Fascinating facts about solar eclipses Sheridan Williams FRAS

The talk will run through past and future eclipses on the IoW and highlight the various types of eclipse, what's coming up until 2028 and whether it's worth travelling to see the 2015 total eclipse..

There will be 2 or 3 videos of 5 minutes duration each.

Sheridan is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and Director of the Computing Section of the British Astronomical Association. He was a founder contributor to Britain’s longest running personal computing magazine "Personal Computer World" and was a Senior Lecturer in computer science and mathematics at Hendon College, and chairman of the Elliott 803 users group. Prior to that he worked as a "Rocket Scientist" with the Ministry of Defence using analogue computers. After running his own very successful computer network company for 20 years he retired. He now works as a volunteer for the National Museum of Computing (http://www.tnmoc.org) at Bletchley Park. Sheridan also provides computer support to the partially sighted members of the RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind). He is also the secretary of the Open University Astronomy Club. Sheridan is the "astronomy expert" for Ancient World Tours and Astro-Trails and takes groups to remote places to witness astronomical events such as eclipses, transits, aurorae, meteor showers and observatories. This has taken him to places as diverse as Siberia, the Atacama Desert in Peru, Madagascar, the Gobi desert in China, Libya, Tahiti, Morocco and many other places. Sheridan has seen 13 total solar eclipses. In the 1990s Sheridan was a modestly successful car rally, sprint and racing driver competing in the latter events in a Ferrari.

Built own telescope in 1966 (200mm Newtonian). Volunteer guide at The National Museum of Computing located at Bletchley Park’s Code-breaking centre and home of Colossus (the world’s first programmable computer). Publications include a book on UK Total Solar Eclipses, Bradt Guides to the 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008 and 2009 total eclipses; plus a combined 2012/2013 eclipses and Venus transit guide. Appearances on TV and radio, including presenting Sky TV’s total eclipse programme from Cornwall in 1999. Writes regular features for the local paper. Lectures widely to astronomical societies, and other interest groups. Also interested in computer processing techniques applied to digital astronomical images.

The Vectis Astronomical Society meets on the 4th Friday of every month, except for December. This event is open for non-members to attend. The speakers come from all over the country and give a presentation for around 45mins. We then stop for a break with tea and biscuits, which gives an opportunity to mingle and chat. The second half of the evening sees a presentation by one of our regular members showing us what to we could see in the sky over the coming month. This always involves some great pictures projected onto the large screen. Entry to the event is free of charge, although as we run as a charity, donations are always welcome.

Newsletters are available at the entrance for a suggested donation of £2.00

Please see our website for contact and membership details.